Tourism distribution at competing destinations

We present a dynamic model of competing destinations to study the agglomeration and dispersion forces driving long-run geographical distribution of tourism. The relative strength of these forces determines whether tourism is agglomerated at one destination or is more disperse. Economies of scale in the tourism industry favour agglomeration while tourists’ preference for local tourist attractions and local services is conducive to dispersion. If returns to scale approach constant and tourists do not appreciate local goods, the interaction between the two destinations disappears and our model converges to the well-known Tourism Area Life Cycle model. By contrast, if destinations interact and the price sensitivity of tourists is low enough to offset the economies of scale that induce firms to agglomerate, the sharing of tourism between the two destinations is stable. Otherwise, tourism tends to agglomerate in one destination. Tourism policies interfere with the agglomeration and dispersion forces and could induce tourist relocation. We calibrate the model with real data before and after the restrictions in force during the pandemic in 2021 and those derived from the war in Ukraine

Business · Destinations · Economic geography · Economics · Economies of agglomeration · Geography · Microeconomics · Relocation · Tourism · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research · Regional Economics and Spatial Analysis · Sharing Economy and Platforms

• Heritage tourism and regional growth

  Open Access•Yuan Wang, Alexander Tziamalis et al.•Tourism Economics•2026

  Incluir item

• Are public disease outbreaks still relevant to tourists’ decisions about using shared mobility

  Lung Hung Chen•Tourism Recreation Research•2025

  Incluir item

• Governance, tourism and inclusive growth in Africa

  Open Access•Toyo Amègnonna Marcel Dossou, Simplice Anutechia Asongu et al.•International Social Science…•2024

  Incluir item

• The Spatial Economy

  Masahisa Fujita, Paul Krugman et al.•Spatial Economy•1999

  Incluir item

• Industrial location and public infrastructure

  Open Access•Philippe Martin, Carol Ann Rogers•Journal of International Economics•1995

  Incluir item

• Oligopoly and the resort cycle in the Bahamas

  Open Access•Keith G Debbage•Annals of Tourism Research•1990

  Incluir item

• The evolution of mass tourism destinations

  Open Access•Josep Antoni Ivars Baidal, Josep A Ivars i Baidal et al.•Tourism Management•2013

  Incluir item

• Scale and scope economies of international tourist hotels in Taiwan

  Open Access•Chih-Chiang Weng, Kuo-Liang Wang•Tourism Management•2004

  Incluir item

• Earthquake effects on tourism in central Italy

  Open Access•Mario Mazzocchi, Anna Montini•Annals of Tourism Research•2001

  Incluir item

• Exploring the Evolution of Tourism Resorts

  Open Access•Aris Papathéodorou, Andreas Papatheodorou•Annals of Tourism Research•2004

  Incluir item

• The resort lifecycle theory

  Open Access•Svend Lundtorp, Stephen Wanhill•Annals of Tourism Research•2001

  Incluir item

• Increasing Returns and Economic Geography

  Paul Krugman•Journal of Political Economy•1991

  Incluir item

• The Concept of a Tourist Area Cycle of Evolution

  Open Access•R W Butler•Canadian Geographies /…•1980

  Incluir item